Sarcocystis spp. in llamas (Lama glama) in Southern Bolivia: a cross sectional study of the prevalence, risk factors and loss in income caused by carcass downgrades.

Llamas (Lama glama) are intermediate hosts of the protozoan parasite Sarcocystis spp. This parasite is described as causing economic losses in the production of llama meat in South America. The aim of this study was to estimate prevalence, identify risk factors and explore spatial patterns of Sarcocystis in llamas in an area of the Bolivian High Plateau including estimating financial losses due to carcass downgrades as a result of the presence of Sarcocystis cysts. Information was collected from a local abattoir between 2006 and 2011 on 1196 llamas. Sarcocystis status was determined at meat inspection where any carcasses with one or more visible cysts were deemed Sarcocystis positive. A high prevalence was found, estimated to vary between 23.4% (95% CI 16.6-30.1) in 2007 and 50.3% (95% CI 44.4-56.3) in 2011. Period prevalence between 2006 and 2011 was estimated at 34.1% (95% CI 31.4-36.8). Age, sex and type (analogous to breed) were identified as risk factors for Sarcocystis using a mixed-effects logistic regression model adjusting for clustering by community and owner. Llamas over 4.5 years of age had an increased odds of being Sarcocystis positive (OR 19.31, 95% CI 9.10-40.98) as well as females (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.13-2.68) and long haired type llamas (OR 1.90, 95% CI 1.26-2.87). An interaction between age and sex was detected indicating that the increased odds of disease from the youngest age group to the 2.5-4.5 years group was much more pronounced in females than in males. Spatial patterns of Sarcocystis were explored at district level by means of Standardised Morbidity Ratios and some spatial heterogeneity was revealed. Estimates of financial loss due to the disease were calculated using the difference in price paid for Sarcocystis positive and negative meat. Loss due to Sarcocystis varied per year but could be up to 20% of the annual income generated through the abattoir by sale of meat. Overall this study shows a high prevalence of Sarcocystis in the study area with some heterogeneity between districts. It also identifies some previously unknown risk factors for Sarcocystis and gives financial estimates of the cost of the disease as a result of carcass downgrades. We hoped these findings will add to the understanding of Sarcocystis in llamas in Southern Bolivia and will be useful when considering if controls are necessary, worthwhile and practical.

Leptina, péptido pleiotrópico: características y su relación con la enfermedad periodontal: revisión de la literatura / Leptin, pleiotropic peptide: general features and its relationship with periodontal disease: review of literature

La leptina es un péptido que inicialmente fue caracterizado como un factor regulador del apetito y se creía que era producido sólo por el tejido adiposo, sin embargo, actualmente se conoce que es sintetizado en diferentes tejidos y posee receptores a lo largo de toda la economía del organismo, mostrando así múltiples funciones, dentro de las que cabe destacar su participación en la regulación del metabolismo lipídico y de los carbohidratos, el crecimiento óseo y la respuesta inmunológica, siendo estos últimos, procesos involucrados en la génesis de la enfermedad periodontal. Por tal motivo, en la presente revisión, se esbozan las principales características tanto estructurales como funcionales de este péptido, y su participación en diferentes roles a nivel sistémico, haciendo énfasis en el moldeado óseo y la respuesta inmunológica, para luego adentrarse en diferentes hallazgos encontrados a nivel bucal, que pudiesen indicar su posible participación en la génesis y el desarrollo de la enfermedad periodontal

Leptin is a peptide that was initially characterized as an appetite regulatory factor and it was believed that it was only produced by adipose tissue, however, it ?s currently known that is synthesized in different tissues and posses receptors throughout the body economy, showing multiple functions, such as involvement in the regulation of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, bone growth and immune response, being the latter processes, involved in the genesis of periodontal disease. Therefore, the present review outlines the main structural and functional characteristics of this peptide, and their participation in various capacities at the systemic level, with emphasis on bone shaping and the immune response, and then goes into different findings at the oral level that could indicate their possible role in the genesis and periodontal disease development

Developing a disease prevention strategy in the Caribbean: the importance of assessing animal health-related risks at regional level.

In 2009 CaribVET conducted a survey among Caribbean national Veterinary Services to assess perceptions of risk assessment and to identify the principal exotic diseases of concern in the region and their means of introduction. The results showed that the introduction of live animals was considered the most likely route of introduction of exotic animal pathogens, followed by the uncontrolled introduction of animal products by boat passengers. The results were used to define a regional strategy for assessing animal health risks that highlights the importance of within-region exchanges.